Can-dumping mechanism



June 20, 1944. c, ABBOTT 2,351,731

CAN DUMPING MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1943 I5 Sheets-Sheet l June 20, 1944. Q ABBOTT 2,351,731

CAN DUMPING MECHANISM Filed June 29, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 61 HA lfioii June 20, 1944. c. H. ABBOTT CAN DUMPING MECHANISM Filed June 29, 19415 (5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 20, 1944 CAN- DUMPING MECHANISM Claude 1!. Abbott, Astoria, Oreg.

Application June 29, 1943, Serial No. 492,767

.6 Claims.

The invention aims to provide a novel and ad'- vantageous mechanism for use in dairies for emptying cans of milk as they are received.

A further object is to provide a novel can dumping mechanism which may be operated by the usual water pressure which is always available in any dairy.

A still further object is to provide a novel can dumping mechanism in which a control valve for the water pressure whichactuates said mechanism, is operated by hand to tilt the can to dumping position and is actuated automatically to exhaust the water when its task has been performed.

Yet another aim is to provide a novel can dumping mechanism in which the water-actuated means returns to normal in readiness for the next operation, during final emptying of the can.

A still further object is to provide a structure which is simplev and inexpensive, yet efliclent, reliable and durable.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed; description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the invention associated with a roller conveyor and a receptacle which receives the milk.

Fig. 1 is a detail vertical section showing the position of the control valve in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a perspective similar to Fig. l but showing the mechanism in the act of dumping a can.

Fig. 2'- is a view similar to Fig. 1" but showing the position of the control'valve in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the parts in the positions which they assume during final can dumping.

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section showing the position of the control valve in Fig. 3.

The construction illustrated in the drawings above briefly described, may be considered as preferred, with the understanding, however, that variations may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed.

A roller conveyor 5 is shown extending to a grating 6 over a receptacle 1, and the present can dumping means is indicated in a general way by the number 8, said mechanism being positioned to receive the incoming cans from the conveyor 5, one at a time, and to dump them through the grating 6 into the receptacle 1, each emptied can being removed from the dumping means and moved on to the usual can washing mechanism. As the conveyor 5, grating 6 and receptacle 1 are (Cl. 214-L1) conventional, no attempt has been made to disclose them in detail.

The supporting frame structure for the conveyor rollers, in the present disclosure, includes parallel side bars 9 supported by legs Ill, suitably braced and tied together near their lower ends by a bar H. A vertical cylinder 1 2 has its lower end pivoted to one end of this bar H as shown at l3, said cylinder containing a piston M (Fig. 2) having a rod IS. A water line I5 leads to the lower end of the cylinder I2 from a control valve II, to which valve a water line It extends from a conventional source of water pressure. An exhaust'line l9 also extends from the valve ll. This valve is of such construction as to place the lines l8 and IS in communication with each other (Fig. 2*) when water is to be admitted to the cylinder l2 to operate the can dumping mechanism, the construction of said valve being also such that it will place the lines It and IS in communication with each other, when the water is to be exhausted from the cylinder l2 to permit the piston M and its rod ii to return to normal position (Fig. 3'). A conventional form of valve for accomplishing these results is shown, with the understanding that any other appropriate valve may be employed. The illustrated valve includes a rotatable plug 20 to which an operating shaft 2| is secured at one of its ends, said shaft extending across the supporting frame structure of the roller conveyor 5, near the grating 6. One end of the shaft 2| is of course supported directly by the valve H, the casing of which is suitably mounted on a bracket II. This bracket is secured to a standard 22 secured to and projecting upwardly from one of the side bars 9' of the roller conveyor 5 and there is a similar standard 22' secured to the other of said side bars, these two standards being provided with bearings 23 at their upper ends. The standard 22' also carries another bearing 24 for the end of the shaft 2| remote from the valve l1, said end ofshaft 2i having an operating handle 25 and an arm 26 for a purpose to appear.

A cradle 21 is provided to receive any milk can 28 to be dumped, said cradle having ,a rock shaft 29 mounted in the bearings 23. A vertically swingable arm 30 is freely pivoted at one of its ends upon the shaft 29, the other end of said arm being pivoted at 3! to the upper end of the piston rod IS. A second arm 32 is secured to the shaft 29 and normally lies upon the arm 30 as seen in Fig. l, the free end of said arm I2 preferably having a cushion I3 contacting with the arm 30, and the latter being preferably widened at 34 for engagement with said cushion.

. There is also a third arm 35 secured to the shaft 29, said arm 35 having a curved terminal 3G1 for coaction with the arm 26 of the valve-operating shaft 2| as seen in Figs. 3 and 3, to so operate the valve ll as to exhaust water from the cylinder l2 when this cylinder and its piston have tilted the cradle El and can as somewhat beyond the position shown in Fig. 2. Before the can reaches this position, it is held by an at tendant and its complete emptying is effected, after which it is passed on to the washing mech= anism. Just as soon as arm 3536 moves arm as to operate valve i! to exhaust water from the cylinder, the piston is, rod it and arm 30 return by gravity to their normal positions (Fig. 3) in readiness for the next operation. When the can has been completely emptied and taken from the cradle 21, this cradle tilts back to the normal position shown in Fig. 1, again placing the arm 32 on the arm 30 and again moving the arm 35-36 out of engagement with the valveoperating arm 26, as also seen in Fig. i. when 38 clears 28, the latter remains in the position to which it was moved by 36 (see Fig. 3*) and thus the supply of water to the cylinder l2 remains cut off until again required. When water is to be admitted to cylinder l2 to again operate the dumping means, the handle 25 is actuated to operate the valve I! (see Figs. 2 and 2).

While the operation will probably be clear from the foregoing, it may be briefly restated as follows:

The cradle 21 normally occupies the substantially upright position shown in Fig. l in readiness to receive a can 28 from the roller conveyor 5. When the can is properly positioned in the cradle. the handle 25 is actuated from the positions of Figs. 1 and 1 to that shown in Figs. 2 and 2, thus operating the valve ill to admit water from the supply line 18, through the valve and through the line it to the cylinder l2. The water pressure elevates the piston M and its rod IS with the result that the arm 30 is upwardly swung, causing this arm to thrust against the arm 32 to tilt the cradle 21 and the can as shown in Fig. 2. When the cradle tilts somewhat past the position shown in Fig. 2, the terminal 36 of the arm 35 strikes the arm 26 on the its lower end with a supporting bar 40 for the valve-operating shaft 2! (Figs. 3 and 3) thus operating the valve H to exhaust water from the cylinder 12 through the line l6, said valve ll, and the exhaust line l9. The piston l5, rod and arm 30 then return by gravity to their normal positions, said arm 30 simply separating from or receding from the arm 32 which is secured to the shaft 29 of the cradle 21. Before the parts really reach the position shown in Fig. 2, an attendant is holding the can 23 and when the cradle is freed from the action of the piston It (by the exhaust of water from the eviinder l2), said attendant tilts the can and cradle on to final dumping position, removes the emptied can from the cradle and moves said cation to the washing means. The cradle 21 and its arms 32 and 35 then return to the normal positions shown in Fig. 1 andsaid arm 35 leaves the arm 26 in the position to which it was moved by the terminal 36 of said arm 35 (see Figs. 1 and 1 With the valve I'I thus left in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 1. no more water may be admitted to the cylinder 92 until handle 25 is again operated to reposition the valve as seen in Figs. 2 and 2*.

can 23, and is provided at its other end with two internal ribs M to engage the usual external head 62 of the can, thus holding the can against slippage on the cradle, said can being, however, held during the final dumping movement, by the attendant who is thus in readiness to remove the emptied can from the cradle.

From the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision hastbeen made for carrying out the objects of the invention, and while preferences have been disclosed, attention is again invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A can dumping mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a cradle tiltably mounted on said supporting structure and normally occupying a can-receiving position, fluid-actuated means mounted on said supporting structure, a control valve for admitting fluid to said fluidactuated means and exhausting it therefrom, and connecting means from said fluid-actuated means to said cradle for tilting the latter toward candumping position, said connecting means including separable thrust portions operatively connected with said cradle and said fluid-actuated means respectively, said thrust portions being cooperable to transmit can-dumping motion from said fluid-actuated means to said cradle and being separable from each other to free said cradle from the influence of said fluid-actuated means, whereby said fluid-actuated means may be returned to normal position during final canduniping, and said cradle may be returned to its normal position after removal of the emptied can.

2. A can dumping mechanism comprising a supporting structure. a cradle pivotally mounted on said supporting structure and normally occupying a. can-receiving position, fluid-actuated means mounted on said supporting structure, a control valve for admitting fluid to said fluidactuated means and exhausting it therefrom, a normally lowered arm connected at one of its ends to said fluid-actuated means and' pivoted at its other end to said supporting structure, a thrust member secured to said cradle and normally lying against said arm, said arm and thrust member being cooperable to transmit can dumping motion from said fluid-actuated means to said cradle, said arm and thrust member being separable from each other to free said cradle from the influence of said fluid-actuated means when said control valve is operated to exhaust fluid from said fluid-actuated means, whereby said arm and said fluid-actuated means may return to their normal positions during final candumping and said cradle may be returned to its normal position after removal of the emptied can. 3. A can dumping mechanism comprising a supporting structure, a tiltable cradle having a supporting shaft rockably mounted on said supporting structure, one normally lowered arm freely pivoted at one of its ends on said shaft, a second arm secured to said shaft and normally abutting said one arm to transmit can-dumping motion from this arm to said cradle, fluid-actuated means connected with said one arm for first raising it to a can-dumping position and then eflecting return of said one arm, and a control valve for said fluid-actuated means, said one am being movable away from said second arm during its return movement, whereby said one arm and said fluid-actuated means may return to their normal positions during final can-dumping and said cradle may be returned to its normal position after removal 01 the emptied can.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1; together with actuating means for said valve including a handle for operating said valve to actuate said fluid-actuated means, and means actuated by said cradle for operating said valve to exhaust the fluid from said fluid-actuated means.

5. A structure as specified in claim 2; together with actuating means for said valve including a is handle for operating said valve to actuate said fluid-actuated means, and means actuated by said cradle for operating said valve to exhaust the fluid from said fluid-actuated means.

6. A structure as specified in claim 3; together with an actuating shaft connected with said valve and mounted in parallel relation with said rock shaft, a handle on said actuating shaft for turning the same to admit fluid to said fluidactuated means, and coacting means on said rock shaft and actuating shaft for turning the latter to exhaust fluid from said fluid-actuated means.

CLAUDE H. ABBO'I'I. 

